Paul Grossman - Macmillan Library

Thriller Thursday (2/20/14 Edition)

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Anne Spieth

We're a day away from TGIF and you know what that means: #ThrillerThursday! Here's what we're reading this week:

RUNNER by Patrick Lee
You know how much Anne loves this "high-tech thriller that's hard to put down" (Library Journal, starred review) because she can't stop recommending it to anyone who will listen (hey casting directors: Channing Tatum!). She's not the only one–it's a March Indie Next pick, has three starred reviews, and the adoration of Lee Child, Steve Berry and Nelson DeMille.

THE INNOCENT SLEEP by Karen Perry
This psychological thriller about a couple restarting their lives five years after losing their son in a tragic accident is perfect for those of you who enjoyed the March 2014 LibraryReads pick, PRECIOUS THING. "This novel, with a premise that taps into the fears of every parent, is an entertaining thriller that fans of Tana French and Gillian Flynn will enjoy." — Library Journal
(get the free downloadable praise sheet)

DEAD WATER by Ann Cleeves
In the eagerly awaited new entry in Ann Cleeves' popular Shetland Islands series (now airing on BBC as the television series Shetland), Detective Inspector Willow Reeves and Inspector Jimmy Perez team up to investigate the murder of a journalist. "Cleeves has an unusually deft hand with characters; not one of them seems purely plot-functional, and Perez’s character keeps deepening with each book." — Booklist, starred review

BROTHERHOOD OF FEAR by Paul Grossman
It's 1933 and famed detective Willi Kraus is avoiding deportation back to Nazi Germany when he finds himself unwittingly drawn into a murder mystery in Paris. "Grossman again manages to make the past come alive, and his complicated investigator displays enough depth and frailty to warrant continued exploits, even without the series’ initial hook of a Jewish cop fighting for justice under the Nazis." — Publishers Weekly, starred review [...]

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Starred Reviews for Children of Wrath

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Ali Fisher

In CHILDREN OF WRATH, Willi Kraus, the celebrated WWI veteran and detective, returns with the case that made him the most famous Jewish Detective in Germany in the days of the Weimar Republic. In this prequel to THE SLEEPWALKERS, Kraus tackles the case of the Kinderfresser, the vicious Child-Eater of Berlin (I know! It gives me the hebejebes, too!).

Both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews gave this book a starred review. Here's what they said:

"Grossman's brilliant second historical featuring Berlin policeman Willi Kraus finds Kraus already feeling the isolation of being a Jew in an overwhelmingly Aryan environment. [...] Fans of cerebral murder mysteries will look forward to the next installment." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"...it's terrifying and worthy. Human nature has never looked so raw." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Publishers Weekly interviewed Paul Grossman back in December and he offered some interesting insight into the research for CHILDREN OF WRATH, such as, "One major influence in my decision making was the works of German psychologist Alice Miller and her ideas on how German child-rearing practices of the 19th century became a key component in the rise of Nazism." He also hints at what's up next for the series: "France." Read the full interview here!

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Even More Books for Dudes

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Ali Fisher

We're big fans of Douglas Lord's Books for Dudes column over at Library Journal. Recently he reviewed a good stack of our unputdownable books, many of which left him cranky from lack of sleep.

We've picked a few choice passages from his reviews to share with you here.

THE VARIATIONS by John Donatich (available in February from Holt)

"When you see me dragging a** around work and looking kind of cranked off at the dinner table, know it’s because this book kept me up long, long after bedtime."

CHILDREN OF WRATH by Paul Grossman (available in February from St. Martin's Press)

Lord called it "an immensely satisfying, all-around winner." And said, "It was compelling enough to keep me up hours past my bedtime and once even to cause me to fall prey to that classic bedtime blunder: falling book-clutched-in-hands, glasses-on-face asleep. This was, of course, followed by the classic wake-up-90-minutes-later-completely-disoriented-and-drooling."

JOE GOLEM AND THE DROWNING CITY by Christopher Golden & Mike Mignola (available in March from St. Martin's Press)

"Mignola, the artist known for the “Hellboy” graphic novel series, and the prolific Golden, whose credits include the YA horror novel STRANGEWOOD, jointly crafted this enjoyable, steampunky YA title." He also warned, "if, like me, you decide that a large cup of coffee at 8:30 pm on a Wednesday is Just. The. Thing. You. Want., well, look no further: you’ll enjoy cranking through this and wake up with a Thursday book’n’caffeine hangover."

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR by Brad Parks (available in March from Minotaur)

Lord said it's, "breezily enjoyable," and admitted, "I skipped two prime nap times and stayed up three hours past bedtime one night, accompanied only by chocolate, tea, and my special blue blankie."

Check out the full article on LibraryJournal.com to see what else Lord recommends.

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